Surface mount (flush) EMT on OSB

[minytrker]

Im starting to run all my emt and install my boxes finally. One thing I over looked is with mounting my boxes on the osb is the emt wont go straight into the box. I have 25 boxes with 10 of them having 3 lines coming out. Is "S" bending the end the only way to this correctly with surface mount?

 

[LXCam]

You have two options. One would be the off-sets at the box or two use #0 mineralacs for the strapping duties. Those will hold it off the board 3/8". If bending the offset isn't something you're interested in doing they make a die type bender specifically for 1/2 and 3/4" EMT.

Clamp: https://m.platt.com/platt-electric-...olts/Erico-Caddy/CD4B/Products.aspx?pid=13228

Bender: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HWFRMG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

There's also one last option. Both Appleton and crousehinds makes a heavy duty malleable clamp with a backing plate.

 

[Firebrick43]

It's called an offset bent, typically two shallow 10 degree offset bends. There is several YouTube videos showing how to do it. Really not that hard and looks nice, shows skill and craftsmanship. Learn a new skill everyday if you can!

There are offset connectors you can use and not have to do the bend, but they make wire pulling hard, add expensive and IMHO look terrible. http://m.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-Electrical-Metallic-Tube-EMT-EMT-to-Box-Offset-Set-Screw-Connector-90371/100120544

Garvin industries also makes some boxes with two side that the KO are offset towards the back of the box.http://www.garvinindustries.com/electrical-junction-boxes/4-square-junction-boxes/2-1-8-deep/52171-kor

 

[minytrker]

You have two options. One would be the off-sets at the box or two use #0 mineralacs for the strapping duties. Those will hold it off the board 3/8". If bending the offset isn't something you're interested in doing they make a die type bender specifically for 1/2 and 3/4" EMT.

Clamp: https://m.platt.com/platt-electric-...olts/Erico-Caddy/CD4B/Products.aspx?pid=13228

Bender: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HWFRMG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

There's also one last option. Both Appleton and crousehinds makes a heavy duty malleable clamp with a backing plate.

Those benders are very, never knew something like that was out there. But I need 1/2 and 3/4 so that would be alot of money!

It's called an offset bent, typically two shallow 10 degree offset bends. There is several YouTube videos showing how to do it. Really not that hard and looks nice, shows skill and craftsmanship. Learn a new skill everyday if you can!

There are offset connectors you can use and not have to do the bend, but they make wire pulling hard, add expensive and IMHO look terrible. http://m.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-Electrical-Metallic-Tube-EMT-EMT-to-Box-Offset-Set-Screw-Connector-90371/100120544

Garvin industries also makes some boxes with two side that the KO are offset towards the back of the box.http://www.garvinindustries.com/electrical-junction-boxes/4-square-junction-boxes/2-1-8-deep/52171-kor

I am going to get a bender and learn to bend them. About 10 years ago I built a few exhaust systems with a mandrel exhaust bender so I have a little experience bending stuff just haven't used a emt hand bender. I watched a few video's online and its done just like i did the exhaust for the most part.

 

[Norcal]

You have two options. One would be the off-sets at the box or two use #0 mineralacs for the strapping duties. Those will hold it off the board 3/8". If bending the offset isn't something you're interested in doing they make a die type bender specifically for 1/2 and 3/4" EMT.

Clamp: https://m.platt.com/platt-electric-...olts/Erico-Caddy/CD4B/Products.aspx?pid=13228

Bender: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HWFRMG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

There's also one last option. Both Appleton and crousehinds makes a heavy duty malleable clamp with a backing plate.

The little kickers are nice but expensive, bought the 1/2" model years ago & found the 3/4" at a sale for $10, The OP would be better off either using minnies or buying a couple of EMT benders & practicing on a few sticks, it will not make anyone a expert but practice helps.

 

[LXCam]

The little kickers are nice but expensive, bought the 1/2" model years ago & found the 3/4" at a sale for $10, The OP would be better off either using minnies or buying a couple of EMT benders & practicing on a few sticks, it will not make anyone a expert but practice helps.

Ya no doubt. I recently cleaned out a 20ft container loaded with a bunch of my contracting tools after I closed shop in 10. At a recent garage sale this one guy got probably 30 hand benders and a few of those for a couple hundred bucks. 'Twas a score for him and good riddance for me. Funny in three decades of bending pipe I don't ever remember using one.

OP, bending pipe isn't hard you just need to practice a little to get the feel and learn how to correct when you dog leg an offset. Literally every aspect of bending can be accomplished with basic math.

 

[mm08822]

Look on ebay for greenlee little kickers. Can pickup a 1/2" for $120. Can put in back on ebay when you are done. Makes perfect box offsets in seconds.

Or as mentioned, learn how to make offsets with two reverse bends with a bender - depends on your interest in learning, future need and how quick you want to get this job done.

 

[minytrker]

Ya no doubt. I recently cleaned out a 20ft container loaded with a bunch of my contracting tools after I closed shop in 10. At a recent garage sale this one guy got probably 30 hand benders and a few of those for a couple hundred bucks. 'Twas a score for him and good riddance for me. Funny in three decades of bending pipe I don't ever remember using one.

OP, bending pipe isn't hard you just need to practice a little to get the feel and learn how to correct when you dog leg an offset. Literally every aspect of bending can be accomplished with basic math.

I saw in one of the video's a math formula for figuring it out and making consistent bends.

Look on ebay for greenlee little kickers. Can pickup a 1/2" for $120. Can put in back on ebay when you are done. Makes perfect box offsets in seconds.

Or as mentioned, learn how to make offsets with two reverse bends with a bender - depends on your interest in learning, future need and how quick you want to get this job done.

Thats a good idea but I know me and I would never sell the tools once done, lol. I could tell the wife thats what I am doing though lol. I want the job done yesterday like everyone else but I want it done right. Im going to try making the bends and if they are just whooping me I'll buy the offset bender.

 

[texas webb]

Buy a hand full of offset connectors,1/2"& 3/4"

 

[Alchymist]

Buy a hand full of offset connectors,1/2"& 3/4"

^^^^^^This.

http://hardwareonlinestore.com/inde...di&ppcstrkid=1332290283&ppcsu=xhg7f5djqitnahs

 

[Norcal]

Buy a hand full of offset connectors,1/2"& 3/4"

Looks like dogsh*t, fits in the same category as 1/2" & 3/4" EMT 90's

 

[dw1]

Looks like dogsh*t, fits in the same category as 1/2" & 3/4" EMT 90's

Yeah, I agree! When I went through my apprenticeship (Long ago) I worked with this "Old Man" and he always said "Remember Son, craftsmanship is included in the price" I'll always remember that. Hell, now I'm the old man.
Practice a little, just remember, whatever degrees on the first bend, make that on the second, you'll get the hang of it.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

The offset connectors would be easiest, but I agree they look like a half-assed job. I also prefer mineralacs on a ceiling, or for multiple runs I would use strut with conduit clamps. But on a wall I prefer single hole straps for a cleaner look, and they won't stick out as far.

You could space the straps off the wall with some small blocks of wood/plywood, but that would probably look worse than the offset connectors.

 

[matt_i]

A stick of 1/2 EMT is $2.50 or less. You need the bender anyway for other aspects of the job...at least I always have...pretty cheap to buy 1 extra stick and practice it, hack it off and do it again until you get a good method. Heck you can even add the practice pieces to your scrap metal bin

 

[Brian_WK]

just make a jig for the bender and mount it on a table I just did 40 10 foot sticks of 3/4 both ends off set. This was 13 years since the last time i bent conduit. I started doing it the correct way with the handle on the floor and kept dog legging and having my offsets not lined up. I ended up taking the head off and mounting it on its side on a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I routed a general shape of it in to the the plywood and screwed it down. I then used screws as a stop for how far i wanted the ends connected to the box. Pulled the conduit to the Block I had set at 10degrees spun it 180 degrees pushed it to the next screw stop and pulled it to the block again then turned the stick end for end and repeat. I bent all 40 sticks identical in under an hour. And it took me 20 minutes to make the jig.
I then put the bender head back on the handle and proceeded to do my 90's and such

Brian

 

[coldh2o]

just make a jig for the bender and mount it on a table I just did 40 10 foot sticks of 3/4 both ends off set. This was 13 years since the last time i bent conduit. I started doing it the correct way with the handle on the floor and kept dog legging and having my offsets not lined up. I ended up taking the head off and mounting it on its side on a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I routed a general shape of it in to the the plywood and screwed it down. I then used screws as a stop for how far i wanted the ends connected to the box. Pulled the conduit to the Block I had set at 10degrees spun it 180 degrees pushed it to the next screw stop and pulled it to the block again then turned the stick end for end and repeat. I bent all 40 sticks identical in under an hour. And it took me 20 minutes to make the jig.
I then put the bender head back on the handle and proceeded to do my 90's and such

Brian

Interesting. Photos?

 

[Brian_WK]

Im not at home and it has since been disaasembled but can post up this crud Paint drawing.
This will get about a 12* bend with the block stopping at 15* with spring back.

Brian

 

[minytrker]

Im not at home and it has since been disaasembled but can post up this crud Paint drawing.
This will get about a 12* bend with the block stopping at 15* with spring back.

Brian

Thats awesome, thanks for posting that. I do believe I will make something like that. That will make it easy to keep the bends on the same plane. When I was bending exhaust I ran into keeping the pipe oriented correctly and would have to put marks on each end to make sure I kept the pipe the same way when bending the other end.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Im not at home and it has since been disaasembled but can post up this crud Paint drawing.
This will get about a 12* bend with the block stopping at 15* with spring back.

Brian

That's a clever idea! Helpful if you have a ton of identical bends.

 

[k-os]

I used 1/2" EMT for my garage when I re-did all the electrical. It was my first time using a conduit bender and it all turned out pretty nice I think. Did a couple test pieces and wrote down the measurements (bend points) for the offsets.

 

[Falcon67]

FWIW - I used MC cable in my work room (all OSB walls) rather than conduit. I did that thinking that if I had to move things, it's be easier and less $ than moving conduit. Had to move a bunch of stuff around in the work room when I bought the big lathe so it already paid off. Certainly not as "tidy" as conduit, but worth consideration.

I can build motors, transmissions, rear ends, weld (sorta), paint, plumb, etc - but when I get around pipe and a bender, oh hell...

 

[Norcal]

FWIW - I used MC cable in my work room (all OSB walls) rather than conduit. I did that thinking that if I had to move things, it's be easier and less $ than moving conduit. Had to move a bunch of stuff around in the work room when I bought the big lathe so it already paid off. Certainly not as "tidy" as conduit, but worth consideration.

I can build motors, transmissions, rear ends, weld (sorta), paint, plumb, etc - but when I get around pipe and a bender, oh hell...

Exposed or concealed? MC cable is no different then NM, they both require protection from physical damage.